The band was groov’in. The joint was rocking. Everyone was showing-off their latest lindy hop moves while trying to forget the just distributed newsreel footage of horrific air raids over German cities and deadly amphibian assaults on once unknown South Pacific atolls. The world remained at war.
While the scene is reminiscent of the 1940s, the reality was Tuesday night’s Music of World War II Concert sponsored by The Villages’ World War II History Club at the North Lake Presbyterian Church. And the music was not by the Benny Goodman Orchestra but the 20-piece Villages All-Star Band with event organizer Bruce Miller serving as emcee.
Besides recalling memories of the bygone era, the fundraiser will financially support the Villages Honor Flight. This year, the concert also was a tribute to the Club’s longtime leader and mentor, Donald Goldstein, Ph.D., who passed away this past December.
“Our Club gathers throughout the month,” explained Tom Sgritta, the Club’s interim leader. “In addition to regular meetings, there are weekly screenings of Hollywood or foreign-produced movies about World War II and then we discuss its significance. The Club also conducts a book club with a similar focus.
“Our goal is threefold. We want to remember what the War cost in human lives and resources so that we can enjoy today’s freedoms,” Sgritta continued. “The Club also honors those living — as well as those who had died — whose significant sacrifice enabled those freedoms. And, we collectively examine how the outcome of World War II continues to have major impacts on the world’s situation today. This ranges from America’s dealings with the Soviet Union, the division of the Korean peninsula, to the proliferation of atomic weapons.”
The World War II Club’s annual event again quickly sold-out the Church’s 1,150-seat sanctuary.
“Everyone has been delighted with these annual Concerts’ successes,” said Liza Walters, one of the event coordinators, and member of the Villages Honor Flight. “My phone had continue to ‘ring off the hook’ long after the last tickets were sold. Now, we’re considering a repeat performance on April 12. That decision and an announcement will soon be made.”
For more information about the World War II Club, contact Tom Sgritta at sgritta1@yahoo.com,
